“All grand tories:” Loyalism in the trans-Appalachian west during the revolutionary war

TY - JOUR

T1 - “All grand tories:” Loyalism in the trans-Appalachian west during the revolutionary war

AU - Ward, Matthew C.

N1 - © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Loyalism was a potent force in the Trans-Appalachian West during the American Revolution. However, the experiences of western Loyalists differed from those elsewhere and provide a broader understanding of the forces affecting Loyalism in the British Empire. There were few reasons for western Loyalists to declare their sympathies and even fewer opportunities to seek assistance from the British. Geography meant that western Loyalists were isolated and could not cooperate effectively with the British government and army, while the threat of Indian attack also gave Loyalists and Whigs a common cause. Consequently, they lacked a clear identity, especially as most westerners were, to some degree, disaffected. Indeed, many frontier “patriots,” from George Rogers Clark to Daniel Boone, were associated with disaffection, if not outright Loyalism. Finally, the reintegration of Loyalists into western society after the Revolution meant that memories of Loyalism were written out of family and local histories.

AB - Loyalism was a potent force in the Trans-Appalachian West during the American Revolution. However, the experiences of western Loyalists differed from those elsewhere and provide a broader understanding of the forces affecting Loyalism in the British Empire. There were few reasons for western Loyalists to declare their sympathies and even fewer opportunities to seek assistance from the British. Geography meant that western Loyalists were isolated and could not cooperate effectively with the British government and army, while the threat of Indian attack also gave Loyalists and Whigs a common cause. Consequently, they lacked a clear identity, especially as most westerners were, to some degree, disaffected. Indeed, many frontier “patriots,” from George Rogers Clark to Daniel Boone, were associated with disaffection, if not outright Loyalism. Finally, the reintegration of Loyalists into western society after the Revolution meant that memories of Loyalism were written out of family and local histories.

KW - American Revolution

KW - Backcountry

KW - Loyalism

KW - trans-Appalachian West

KW - Kentucky

KW - frontier

KW - warfare

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85170521571

U2 - 10.1080/14788810.2023.2250419

DO - 10.1080/14788810.2023.2250419

M3 - Article

SN - 1478-8810

VL - 21

SP - 206

EP - 227

JO - Atlantic Studies: Literary, Historical and Cultural Perspectives (Atlantic Studies)

JF - Atlantic Studies: Literary, Historical and Cultural Perspectives (Atlantic Studies)

IS - 2

ER -